Method of building up a data bank containing customer data and/or for the organization of a rebate or coupon system

1. A method for motivating a customer to purchase a product or a service and for rewarding the customer for repeat purchases thereof, the method comprising the steps of: applying a unique code to evidence of the purchase of the product or service; giving a customer access to the evidence including the code thereon after the customer has completed the purchase, wherein the evidence is part of the product, and including the step of applying the code to the product so that the code remains invisible to the customer until after the customer purchased the product; establishing a central data processing and retention having an Internet connection; causing the customer to contact the station via the Internet and to transmit the code and data identifying a characteristic of the customer to the processing station; at the processing station assigning a digitally accessible account to the customer; digitally receiving the code and the data transmitted by the customer and without human intervention directing at least the data transmitted by the customer via the Internet to the account; in the account, storing a value assigned to the product or service; repeating the steps of giving, transmitting the code via the Internet to the processing station, and digitally receiving and storing; and permitting the customer via the Internet and without further human intervention to redeem accumulated values in the account and apply the redeemed accumulated values to at least one of a plurality of uses selected by the customer.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the evidence is a receipt and including providing the customer with the receipt.

3. A method according to claim 1 including the step of accessing the account at the station via the Internet and providing an account status update.